The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-03-11
SPANISH LEGENDS
Current Among the Old Mines Of
PlaterOs.

Current Among the Old Mines Of
Plateros.
The mining camp of Plateros is situ-
ated in the district of FresnillO, in the
State of Zacatecas, about a league dis
tant from the town of Fresnillo. Its
discovery, as related in tradition was
as follows: Some silversmiths (pIaterOS)
were journeying toward Durango,
carrying in chest an image of Christ
upon the cross, when they were over
taken by a heavy rain, and were obliged
to pass the night upon one of the small
hills near FresnillO. The storm ceased,
and the men, after dispOslng their
sacred burden safely in the midst of
their baggage, Suilt a huge campfire,
and, seated in a circle around it, supped
upon their thick cakes of cOrn-fiOur
and savOry strips of jerked beef. 1t is
to be supposed that, being friends all
on the road, and with stomachs full,
they would give free play to their
tongues. In good truth, they dis
cOursed of storms and tempests, of
swollen rivers, of highway robbers, and
all the dangers that menace those who
travel. Then the talk turned upon
themes of arithmetic and finance, and
very naturally 1t resulted that the good
fellows took stock of their exchequer,
which proved to contain a joint capital
of barely twenty dollars.
eff only the Lord would bestow upon
- To1r
tone of melancholy.
Nothing is impossible to Him. re-
piled another.
Il know that well enough; still,
don't see how we are to become rich. "
"Oh, thou art a doubling Thomas.
Every thing comes easy to God"
"But it must be asked fOr.''
"Then let us ask now"
The silversmiths accordingly kneeled
before the chest that contained the holy
image, and ferYently recited creed.
Then, enwrapping themselves in their
zardpeS, they laid themselves down be-
side the fire, and doubtless slept. The
next morning the wind had swept away
the ashes where their campfire had
blazed, and there, glistening in the
first rays of the rising sun, was bright
and shining ingot of silver that the fire
had smelted from the rock. The silver
smiths, it may readily be believed,
went no further with their image, but
began straightway to work the mines,
! where they shortly erected a chapel to
Our Lady of the Silversmiths, whence
| the mines are named
do not hold myself responsible for
! the truth of this narrative. l can only
vouch for the fact that the mines and
! the chapel are in existence to-day.
| One afternoon friend invited me TO
visit that same mine, and we set out ac-
| cOrdingly. Nothing could be sadder or
| lonelier than the situation; dry gulch,
with a few gray houses of adobe scat
tered at the foot of the low hills, and a
| horizon line of brown hills, bare of
verdure--such is Plateros. 1t is, how
ever, very rich, the leads of dense sui
! pilates cropping out on the surface.
AS my knowledge of mining is of the
slightest, suggested to my compan-
ion that we should visit the church,
whose architecture is fine, and its di-
mensions all too ample for the few OF
the faithful in the little town.
Before we 90 into the church, " re.
marked my companion, ~ wish to re-
late to you a tradition"
You have the word" I answered
land that with all my heart. As the
botanists 20 nosing about in search oi
unknown plants, and the mineralogists
after veins of ore, so 1 shall get out OF
hearing mass by listening to tradi
ton"
"Once upon time, then" my friend
began, ga poor man came up the road
driving a small, lean donkey. This
animal carried little chest of pinch
beck rings, earrings, looking-glassei
and the like for sale among the ranch
eros In short, this was peddler
When he had arrived at a cliff in one
of the hills, he unloaded the donkeJ
and turned it loose to grass at will
while he sat down upon his pack sad
die After a time another wayfarel
appeared and came to sit down by the
former. They talked awhile, smoked
their cigarettes, and then lay dowI
peacefully to sleep, for these
were brothers, travelling together
and partners in business. He whC
had driven the donkey fell asleeI
very shortly. but Francisco, the other
began to think that if he were maste
of his brothers money and goods h
would have enough to support him
and would be subject to the command
Of none This fame kindled in hi
mind was famed by Satan, and he de
ternined to carry out the idea He OBJ
served his brothers respiration, and
satisfied that he slept soundly, Fran
cisco arose. and on tiptoe, with his lip
apart and his eyes wide and rolling, h
lifted up a great, black stone, and hold